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| Iraq |
| U.S.-Trained Iraqi Militia Patrols Tikrit |
| 2003-09-05 |
| EFL/FU: Dressed in full combat gear, Iraqi troops returned to the streets of Saddam Hussein’s hometown Friday - this time patrolling with American soldiers. After being trained by the 4th Infantry Division, 31 Iraqi Civil Defense Corps militiamen walked side by side, their AK-47 rifles ready, with U.S. soldiers, greeting townsfolk and the occasional shopkeeper. Most shops were closed Friday, the day Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld flew to Tikrit to meet American troops and be briefed by commanders. For the visit, the Iraqi militiamen redirected traffic from the main highway as a security precaution. But more importantly, the Iraqi militia - known as the Tikrit Patrol - made its presence known to residents. "People are happy to see us," said Joseph Musaad, 24, one of the militiamen. "We speak Arabic to them. We greet them with salaam aleikum (peace be upon you)." Mussad, dressed in a khaki uniform, new boots, a bulletproof vest and helmet, said he volunteered for the force because he believed "Iraqis need security," and because he likes the military and needs a job to feed his wife and their 18-day-old daughter. "We call them the Tikrit Patrol," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Soden, 36, of Tuscon, Ariz., with 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment. "At first, we were a little bit skeptical, but now, we see they can do exactly the same as we’re doing." Just be careful. During three weeks of training, the Iraqi force was taught how to search vehicles, set up checkpoints and fire rifles. Some of them were former military or police, and the entire force was picked by tribal leaders. Hope they did as good a backround check as they could. "People are surprised to see them," said Staff Sgt. Mark Hill, 36, of Tampa, Fla. "One of them stopped the traffic to let an old lady pass. People would rather see them than us, or even the Iraqi police, who they don’t seem to respect much." The first few hours of patrol went without incident. Near the bridge intersection, the Iraqi patrol and the Americans found a homemade bomb next to a roadside. A U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal team was called in. Walking back to their base, the Iraqis perspired in the heat, but looked satisfied. One developed blisters on his feet. Another wore a slightly oversized pair of sunglasses and said the only words he knew in English: "I’ll be back." A good start. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 This is great! Get them trained and out there, and get our boys (and girls) back home! Well, most of them, anyway--it'd sure be nice to have a good size force deployed down Basra-way, just to keep the Soddies honest. |
| Posted by: Dar 2003-9-5 4:18:23 PM |
| #1 Gotta vote for Arnold in California, if only for that very last sentence. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-9-5 3:32:29 PM |